The man behind Calcutta’s once-in-a-lifetime football moments, Satadru Dutta is about to deliver something only true fans dare to dream — bring Lionel Messi, the G.O.A.T. himself, to the city this December. Pele, Diego Maradona, Ronaldinho, World Cup–winning Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano “Emi” Martinez — Satadru has managed to bring some of the greatest soccer icons to the City of Joy. And now, with Messi all set to fly down to our city, it’s not just a professional milestone for Satadru — it’s a promise he made to himself and to the football-loving soul of this city.
For the past 12 years, Satadru, through Satadru Dutta Initiative, has been organising Legends Football events that have changed Calcutta’s sporting landscape. It began in 2012 with the Brazilian 1994 World Cup-winning team, followed by football royalty — Pelé, Diego Maradona, Cafu, Emi Martinez, and Ronaldinho. What started as a banker’s side initiative has turned into a full-blown career where passion meets business. Football isn’t just work for him, it’s a love affair.
The journey began with a friend’s suggestion in Mumbai: bring footballers to India and turn it into an event. The connection was made, and the first challenge was learning how to convince world-famous footballers, many of them retired legends, to travel halfway across the globe to meet football-crazy fans in Calcutta. “You convince them they’ll inspire thousands of young fans here. That’s the biggest challenge.” The second challenge? Funds. But Satadru has mastered the art, not just of bringing the stars here, but of making his sponsors happy enough to return year after year.
Bringing Pele to India after 37 years was a proud moment for Satadru. Bringing Maradona, however, was deeply personal. Satadru’s father, a die-hard Maradona fan, had always dreamt of meeting the legend. On the day he signed Maradona for the event, Satadru’s own son was born, and he named him after his favourite soccer icon — Diego. “When Maradona came, he even took my son on his lap. That was unforgettable,” he remembers.
Cafu, the Brazilian captain and two-time World Cup champion, was next. Then came Emi Martinez, fresh from Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph. “I saw him in the final, and I thought this guy is special. Six months later, I brought him to Calcutta, and also took him to my favourite club, Mohun Bagan.” Ronaldinho followed, bringing a different kind of energy — joyful, playful — and adored by fans despite the language barrier.
Bringing Messi has been a two-and-a-half-year mission for Satadru, and now it’s almost a reality. Messi will be in Calcutta this December 13, 14 and 15, followed by Mumbai and Delhi. The much-awaited soccer event won’t be a professional match, but rather a celebration of the legend himself. There will be a football masterclass for kids, a celebrity football match in Messi’s honour, and a grand felicitation by the state government. Fans will get the chance to see him live, something most can only dream of! And perhaps that’s the most important part of his mission. Satadru is ensuring that kids here don’t just watch Messi on TV — they see him breathe, smile, and inspire, right here in their city. In Mumbai, there will be a cricket crossover, with legends from the sport meeting Messi, but the focus will remain firmly on football.
Football runs so deep in Satadru’s life that even his son Diego is being groomed for a football career. “In India, football doesn’t have the infrastructure, money, or vision,” he says. “We don’t have role models like cricket does. After Bhaichung Bhutia and Sunil Chhetri, who else can kids look up to here?” For him, developing Indian football is about more than big stadiums. “Football is a simple game. You just need a ball and a field. Countries like Uzbekistan don’t have huge infrastructure, yet they play at the top level. We need a vision, leadership, and government support. And we need to stop saying ‘someday’ about the World Cup. We need an actual target year,” adds Satadru.
When it comes to his favourite players, he refuses to pick between Messi and Ronaldo. “Messi is like watching a movie — effortless magic. Ronaldo is like a masterclass in hard work, determination, and discipline. Both are inspirations, just in different ways.” Maradona, however, remains his all-time favourite, with Pele, Messi, and Ronaldo close behind.